Delhi woke up to an early winter surprise as cold northwesterly winds swept across the city, dragging temperatures well below the seasonal average. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that Wednesday marked one of the coldest October days the capital has seen in recent years.
According to IMD data the maximum temperature dropped to 26.5 degrees Celsius eight degrees below normal while the minimum settled at 20.3 degrees Celsius. Several parts of the city recorded even lower readings, with the Ridge area in north Delhi registering a chilly 17.6 degrees Celsius and Palam close behind at 18.4 degrees Celsius.
Weather officials attributed the sudden chill to the retreating influence of a western disturbance and the flow of cold northwesterly winds from snow-clad Himalayan regions. While clearer skies and a slight rise in daytime temperatures are expected, the nighttime cold is likely to persist through the weekend. “Cold winds from the mountains are the main reason for this early nip in the air,” said Skymet Weather vice-president Mahesh Palawat, noting that snowfall in higher altitudes has intensified the drop in temperatures.
Despite the unusual chill, the city’s residents have a reason to breathe easy literally. The recent spell of rain and gusty winds has significantly improved Delhi’s air quality. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 81 on Wednesday, keeping it in the ‘satisfactory’ range for the second straight day. This marks a positive shift from Tuesday’s AQI of 73.
According to the Centre Air Quality Early Warning System, air quality may slip into the ‘moderate’ category in the coming days but is expected to remain stable over the weekend.
As Delhiites pull out their light sweaters and enjoy a break from the typical October heat this early winter preview brings both relief and a reminder of the changing seasonal patterns across North India.